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Northward: Peary’s 1908-09 Expedition

My left ankle

05-24-1909 – Afternoon

Donald B. MacMillan

Cape Washington, Greenland

Another beautiful day, temperature +23°. A short march to Cape Washington as we wish to look at records in Commander Peary's cairn and wait a few hours for the sun to get around behind us.
We have done so much snow shoeing that my left ankle has given out completely. I should never have known but what I had sprained it in some way if George had not informed me as to the cause of the trouble. It is what the French Canadian guides call "mal de raquette" or over taxation of the muscles in front of the ankle reaching up the leg for five or six inches. Caused by snapping the snow shoe out ahead at every step. My foot drops down of its own weight and remains in that position in spite of my best efforts. Tonight I have it tied up to my leg with a string to ease the pain if possible.
We find Commander's record enclosed with a copy of Lockwood and Brainard's in a tin cylinder left by him at their farthest point - Lockwood Island.
George tried to get a photograph of them at six feet, the records held up by Kiotah and myself.